Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Emancipation Day
Happy Emancipation Day. At least we no longer celebrate the holiday the first Monday in August to avoid breaking up the week. Instead,we have reverted to recognising the original day. That is something noteworthy since at least we now say Emancipation Day holiday and not August Monday.
Sometimes,I feel that we can safely cancel this holiday because generally we don't have a collective consciousness about the significance of the day. For the most part it is just another holiday, another day to lime without any serious reflection or thanksgiving. It's a pity really but when one is so far removed from the actual horrors of slavery and not nurtured in your history then it's not surprising at all.
I think the challenge is to do something meaningful with the day. Rallies and exhibitions are fine but it must go beyond that and get to a point where the little children will have an understanding of why there is an Aug 1. Maybe even in the same way the Garifuna people of Belize do pilgrimages to St Vincent there can be linkages with West African countries. Many people hate to talk about slavery but it did happen and the race survived. Right there we have a lot to celebrate.
Sometimes,I feel that we can safely cancel this holiday because generally we don't have a collective consciousness about the significance of the day. For the most part it is just another holiday, another day to lime without any serious reflection or thanksgiving. It's a pity really but when one is so far removed from the actual horrors of slavery and not nurtured in your history then it's not surprising at all.
I think the challenge is to do something meaningful with the day. Rallies and exhibitions are fine but it must go beyond that and get to a point where the little children will have an understanding of why there is an Aug 1. Maybe even in the same way the Garifuna people of Belize do pilgrimages to St Vincent there can be linkages with West African countries. Many people hate to talk about slavery but it did happen and the race survived. Right there we have a lot to celebrate.
# posted by Abeni @ 11:18 PM 
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Nice post Kami. We indeed need to appreciate that our ancestors struggled for our freedom and was successful. We should not forget it happened, as it’s a part of our history. However, we should not dwell on it, but try to move forward and progress as a proud free people.
Happy Emancipation day to you as well. And don't worry about it too much. People treat all holidays the same, regardless of the significance!
"Sometimes,I feel that we can safely cancel this holiday because generally we don't have a collective consciousness about the significance of the day. For the most part it is just another holiday, another day to lime without any serious reflection or thanksgiving"
The same could be said for us in Barbados. Every year a few complain that celebrations are low-key or overshadowed by Crop Over, the majority could care less. There has been no real effort to truly commemorate emancipation day. I saw many bloggers with posts on emancipation day...funny that it receives so much attention online and offline most people are just glad for the day off from work.
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The same could be said for us in Barbados. Every year a few complain that celebrations are low-key or overshadowed by Crop Over, the majority could care less. There has been no real effort to truly commemorate emancipation day. I saw many bloggers with posts on emancipation day...funny that it receives so much attention online and offline most people are just glad for the day off from work.
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